GFL-1000 Portable Ground Fault Locator

Model # GFL-1000

The Eagle Eye GFL-1000 Ground Fault Locator is an essential instrument to pinpoint faulty grounding where electrical cables have breakage and loss to the ground. The unit measures current leakage of DC systems with high resistance. The GFL-1000 is designed to fast-detect, track, and locate virtual grounding faults for both offline and online DC systems. Measurement of online DC systems is possible as the output current of the GFL-1000 is very low but the output voltage can be up to 1000V. The GFL-1000 battery ground detector provides accurate solutions for troubleshooting and preventative maintenance, increasing the reliability of electrical equipment. Fast localization and elimination of grounding faults is critical for electricians and service technicians whose goal is to increase system reliability.

Specifications

FAQs

Benefits

More Info

Technical Specs

Output Voltage:

24, 48, 110, 220, 500, 1000 VDC

Output Frequency:

10 Hz

Output Current Limitation:

5 mA or Unlimited (Max 25mA)

Fault Location Sensitivity:

≤ 1 MΩ

Current Detect Sensitivity:

AC/DC Circuit: ≥ 0.5 mA

Quick Search Clamp:

55 mm (diameter), 60 mm (jaw opening)

Current Sensor:

φ8 and φ20

Jaw Opening:

60 mm (2.36 in)

Display:

Backlit Color LCD

Operating Environment:

Temperature: -5 – 40 °C (23 – 104 °F)

Power Requirements:

8.4 VDC Li-ion Battery

Dimensions:

360 x 260 x 135 mm (14.2 x 10.2 x 5.3 in)

Weight:

7 kg (15.4 lbs)

FAQs

What are some common applications areas for this product? Common applications include but are not limited to:

Industrial Facilities: electric safety equipment for general power distribution applications

Telecommunication: electronic equipment with faulty grounding

Why should you measure battery ground faults? Battery ground faults are often times difficult to locate and create costly and catastrophic consequences if they remain undetected. The entire battery system will be compromised and subject itself to overheating, thermal runaway, and reduced battery capacity while creating a hazardous work environment.

How does the GFL-1000 detect a fault? The ground fault detector works by injecting an AC signal into the bus system with respect to ground using the signal generator. The signal path is then traced using current clamps connected to the signal receiver. The direction of current flow is indicated on the receiver display, enabling the clamps to be moved to another branch or section of wiring. The measurement is repeated, the clamps moved again until the faulty part of the circuit is located.

What are some typical kinds of faults the GFL-1000 can test for? A typical supply to be tested will consist of a main bus connection with many branches to different loads or systems. Typical faults you may encounter are:

Fault from the positive bus to ground.

Fault from part of a load to ground.

Fault between bus bars (partial short circuit).

Fault from a branch to ground.

Fault from bus to a separate circuit (‘Wire Mix’ connection).

Leakage capacitance (This is not a fault, but leakage capacitance may be distributed around the system and will influence measurement).

In all cases, the actual impedance (resistance) of the fault may be very high, very low due to a short circuit, or anywhere in between.

How is the GFL-1000 powered? Both the signal generator and signal receiver use rechargeable batteries that can be charged using power supplies (110/220 VAC, 50/60 Hz) which are included in the GFL-1000 package. The state of charge for each unit is indicated by the icon in the top right hand corner of the unit’s display. Both units may be charged while switched off. When the units are fully charged an indicator on the power supply changes from red to green.

How long do the rechargeable batteries last on a full charge? The batteries will last for approximately 4 hours in normal use.

Additional signal receivers can work simultaneously to narrow down the searching scope and find the faults quicker

Reflects the aging status - reducing maintenance and repair costs

More Info

The GFL-1000 pinpoints ground faults by accurately measuring grounding resistance and distributing capacitance. Based on different distributing capacitance, it selects the right output frequency for testing - enabling it to be used on a variety of DC systems.

The GFL-1000 has a compact and rugged design making it easy to use in small places and harsh environments. The GFL-1000 Ground Fault Locator is widely used in the telecom, utilities, and transportation industries.

The GFL-1000 Kit Includes:

GFL-1000 Main Body Signal Generator

Power Adapter

Two (2) Signal Testing Leads

Two (2) Alligator Clips

Punctuation Clip

Signal Receiver

Two (2) Dual-Range Current Detector

Two (2) Batteries

Battery Charger

Carrying Case

User Manual

Utilities commonly use the GFL-1000 to meet NERC compliance. The GFL-1000 is recommended by NERC PRC-005-2 to inspect for unintentional grounds for Vented Lead-Acid, Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid, and NiCad batteries every four calendar months. In many cases, the first ground that appears on a battery is not a problem. Unintentional grounds that appear on the opposite pole become problematic, and it is up to the user to determine if corrective actions are needed on detected unintentional DC grounds to reduce any possible consequences.